12 Days of First Aid Tips: Choking

With so many mouth-watering treats up for grabs at Christmas time, it’s perfectly normal to get a little carried away.  As you’re tucking into your turkey and inhaling mince pies, food may become lodged in your airway causing you to choke.

When someone begins to choke, it’s vital that you take swift action to prevent the situation from getting much worse. In the fourth instalment of 12 Days of First Aid Tips, we will teach you how to effectively help someone who is choking.

4# Choking

• The first thing you must do if someone is choking is encourage them to cough; this will hopefully dislodge the blockage.
• If coughing doesn’t help, you should administer 5 back blows. Support the casualty by putting your free arm around their front along their collarbone, encourage them to lean forward and give 5 sharp blows between their shoulder blades checking if the obstruction has cleared between each blow.
•  If the obstruction still hasn’t been dislodged then you must give the casualty abdominal thrusts. Standing behind the casualty, clench your hand into a fist and place it directly above their belly button, then place the palm of your other hand on top. Pull sharply inwards and upwards 5 times, checking if the obstruction has cleared after each thrust.
• Repeat back blows and abdominal thrusts three times and if the obstruction still hasn’t been dislodged you must dial 999. If the casualty becomes unconscious, begin CPR.

Swift action must be taken to ensure that the casualty the best chance of survival possible. To gain the knowledge of more life-saving skills, sign up for a first aid training course. Our customer service team are happy to assist with any questions you have. Contact us today on 0845 071 0820.